POP – the album that has become widely recognized as the defining moment in which Wolfgang Voigt brought us into a clearing of his deep, psychedelic forest. A landmark release in the GAS odyssey that drew international attention, POP was originally released in 2000 on the iconic Frankfurt imprint MILLE PLATEUX. POP was heralded by Pitchfork at the time of release as being “an exercise in sonic texture… pure sonic velvet, the layered drone radiating a palpable warmth.”
POP has since been reissued in 2016 as a part of GAS “BOX” (now out of print) and finally now, POP is released on KOMPAKT – for the first time in its original artwork. POP wird allgemein als das GAS Album angesehen, auf dem Wolfgang Voigt den Hörer auf eine kleine Lichtung inmitten seines undurchdringlichen, psychedelischen Waldes mitnahm. Ursprünglich im Jahr 2000 auf dem legendären Frankfurter Label Mille Plateaux veröffentlicht, gilt POP innerhalb der GAS Historie als Meilenstein, der international große Aufmerksamkeit erregte. Das renommierte amerikanische Musikmagazin Pitchfork nannte POP „eine Übung in sonischen Texturen … reiner, akustischer Samt; dicht übereinander geschichtete Drones, von denen eine tatsächlich spürbare Wärme ausgeht“.
Als Bestandteil der GAS „BOX“ (aktuell vergriffen) bereits 2016 neu aufgelegt, wird POP nun mit Original Artwork erstmals auf KOMPAKT veröffentlicht.
raum…musik welcomes Italian producer Santos for his debut on the label with Human Factor EP — a versatile four-tracker blending tech house, deep house, minimal, and acid, crafted with the finesse of someone two decades deep in the game.
The EP opens with “Some We Are,” a deep acid house track driven by a steady groove, bubbling 303s, and teasing vocal snippets. Atmospheric pads and warm chords emerge as the track evolves, balancing dancefloor function with rich detail.
“Paragonal” shifts gears with sampled breaks and emotional synth stabs layered over a 4x4 pulse. Hazy vocals and spacey effects give it a bright, euphoric edge while keeping it floor-ready.
On the B-side, “Done Everyday” leans into swing-heavy deep house territory. Shuffled hats, micro-programmed percussion, and a solid sub-bass glue everything together — minimal house with punch and precision.
“Kink In Me” closes the record with a more experimental mood. Sparse and hypnotic at first, it patiently unfolds into a deep, quirky, and rhythmically rich groover of jazzy chords and dubby textures.
With Human Factor EP, Santos delivers a polished and dynamic record that speaks to seasoned diggers and fast-moving dance floors alike. raum…musik continues its tradition of top-shelf, club-focused curation with this timeless release.
Breidenbach returns with its third vinyl release, a four-track V.A. titled Nothing Can Go Wrong — a confident outing from the Heidelberg-based imprint, built around minimal house aesthetics, dub accents, and deeply hypnotic cuts. Uniting artists from Japan, Germany, and Sweden, the EP brings together three distinct voices aligned by a shared sense of groove, texture, and restraint.
On the A-side, Sasaki Hiroaki opens with "Groove Keep Practice", a warm, rolling Deep House track laced with sensual female vocal snippets and dubby pads. Subtle delays, spaced-out beats, and a fluid rhythm create the perfect recipe for dancefloor hypnosis. FilOu follows with two cuts: "Stampede" on A2 is crisp and crunchy, driven by a syncopated, funk-leaning bassline and surrounded by micro-glitches, sampled stabs, and airy textures that keep things moving. On the flip, "Astral" expands the palette with similar percussive tightness, but the basslines hit deeper, growling through the arrangement with attitude — hypnotic, consistent, and built for long blends. Chris Llopis closes the V.A. with "Aetherial Haze", a bright and melodic entry full of FM-style synths, scattered vocal snippets, and dubby echoes. It’s the most playful moment of the EP, but still rooted in the heady minimalism that runs through the entire release.
With Nothing Can Go Wrong, Breidenbach continues to define its space — thoughtful, functional records built for DJs who know that less is often more.
The 7:45s are an original soul collective from Manchester, UK – the brainchild of songwriter and bassist Sam Flynn. Inspired by the house bands of soul labels from Motown to Big Crown, the young collective spotlights guest vocalists such as Martin Connor and Nicole Battick. Named after 7-inch vinyl, The 7:45s write snappy singles that blend the vintage feel of rare groove with the songcraft of perfect pop.The 7:45s have been played on BBC Radio 6 Music by Craig Charles, Stuart Maconie and Chris Hawkins and on Jazz FM by Simon Phillips.
A concept album for the soul, Spinning is a retro-soul love story. Side A is sunshine soul about the dizziness of an on-off relationship, as heard in the Charles Bradley-inspired opener 'The Way That I Love You'. Side B is nocturnal. Head-spinning heartbreak is the subject of rare groove-influenced 'The Writing's on the Wall' while dancing to a new dawn is the theme of Prince-inspired disco number 'We Will Be Friends'. The album also features a reimagination of The Beatles' 'Don't Let Me Down'.
DJ Support: Groove Armada, Gorgon City, Claptone, Nicole Moudaber, Dennis Cruz, Carl Cox, Steve Aoki, Tiesto, Steve Angello, Oliver Heldens, Bob Sinclar, Diplo, Sofi Tukker, Dombresky, Carlita, A-trak, ALOK, Danny Howard, Kaskade, Hot Since 82.
Toolroom’s next Sampler sees 4 big releases from Tony Romera, Crusy, Low Steppa, James Hurr, CASSIMM, Darius Syrossian and Kathy Brown.
Rocksteady took over Orange Street ,Kingston, Jamaica around 1966,the same time that an extreme heat wave hit the Jamaican Island.
Some say the previous jerky Ska Rhythms proved too strenuous of an activity to partake in during the all night Sound Systems.
So it proved a winning formula to slow the beat down to a more leisurely pace.
Whatever the reasons were this two year period that ran until 1968 would see some of the power escape from the big three producers,Clement 'Coxonne 'Dodd,Prince Buster and Duke Reid...who up to that period ruled the airwaves. It was time to make room for a new wave of up and coming producers that also had something to offer the people.
So sit back and enjoy some Rocksteady straight from the dances of Jamaica...Hope you enjoy the set...............
Sechs legendäre Trance-Tracks aus den 90ern & 2000ern – in den erfolgreichen Talla 2XLC Reworks – auf exklusiv farbiger, streng limitierter Vinyl!
Mit seinem Label Technoclub Retro! lässt Talla 2XLC unvergessene Trance-Klassiker mit viel Liebe zum Detail kraftvoll und emotional neu aufleben.
Techno Club Retro Vol. 1 ist eine Zeitreise durch die Trance-Geschichte, präsentiert durch die ersten sechs erfolgreichen Veröffentlichungen des Labels. Perfekt für Liebhaber, DJs und Sammler gleichermaßen ein Statement auf Vinyl!
Side A:
• Dito – Shadows (Talla 2XLC Remix): Das Original aus 2000 – melancholisch und hypnotisch – erhält eine treibende Dynamik mit Gänsehautmomenten.
• Triple Concept – Tonetwister (Talla 2XLC Remix): Von 1998, bekannt für das ikonische NASA-Sample. Der Remix liefert eine wuchtige Bassline und modernes Clubfeeling.
• Alpha Breed – Epic Future (Talla 2XLC Remix): Ralphie B’s Meisterwerk von 1999, jetzt mit psytrancigen Akzenten – energetisch und atmosphärisch zugleich.
Side B:
• Talla 2XLC – Follow The Meteor: Ein Remake des Vectrex-Hits von 2004 – zwischen mystischem Drive und Adrenalinschub, perfekt für die Peak-Time.
• Plastic Angel – Schatten 2021 (Talla 2XLC & Para X Remix): „Schatten“ von 2001, neu aufgelegt von zwei Trance-Veteranen – emotional, druckvoll und voller Tiefe.
• Traveller – Bright Sign (Talla 2XLC Remix): Hardtrance trifft Psy – der 2002er Kulttrack bekommt fette Breaks, bunte Strings und kompromisslose Energie
Berlin's Scheermann debuts on Mutual Rytm with deeply personal EP, 'Viciosa'.
Scheermann is at the heart of the Berlin underground as a DJ/producer, but also working behind the scenes at the Intakt Berlin vinyl pressing plant, where he first met Mutual Rytm founder SHDW. As a resident of the Lorem Ipsum party series, he delivers cultured and compelling grooves, and is also an active member of the Wesertekk collective - supporting and pushing club culture to the forefront in more rural areas. His music comes from a deeply personal place, never chasing hype or headlines, and is usually found at home on his own imprint, SAMMLER. This new EP marks his first appearance away from the label as he unveils a collection of records crafted over five years, with each track representing different moments in his life.
'Viciosa' kicks off with paranoid vocals panning about as swinging, warehouse-ready drums pound heavily below. The gritty synth craft adds plenty of texture as filters build the vibe. 'Placid Sin' is even more intense with unresolved synths tripping you in a loopy state while coarse percussion and cantering drums march on. 'Don't Care' is a rave-ready cut that injects your soul with urgent synth energy over more minimal and moody drums. 'Kano' brings a more elastic rhythm with dubby undercurrents and sleek sonar pulses infusing it with mystery, while 'Reika' is a nimble cut with icy hi hats and curious synth notes layering in late night suspense. First digital bonus 'Resoclap' is a heavyweight swinger with dark, groaning voices, before the second digital bonus 'Mizu' provides a speedy and supple workout for body and mind.
Scheermann 'Viciosa' lands on Mutual Rytm on 22nd August 2025.
To coincide with the second birthday of Echo Chamber Recordings, it was right that we returned to the series that kickstarted it all in the summer of 2023 - with the fourth instalment of the “Boogaloo Lessons”. The Latin Brothers dig even deeper in their crates of original late 1960s vinyl from New York - to sample dozens of tunes for these next instalments. As ever, these are cut and pasted into a dancefloor party style and updated with extra beats ‘n’ FX for clubwise satisfaction - in homage to the classic Hip Hop Lessons series
The first two releases in the series sold out immediately…
This edition is only 300 worldwide - in order to move quickly and get more space on the shelves for the forthcoming releases on the way on ECR and it’s sister labels ECHO LABS and ECHO EDITS - which are queuing up right now at the pressing plant !
»Reise der Schatten« (»Journey of Shadows«) is the soundtrack to the eponymous debut feature-length animation film by Swiss artist Yves Netzhammer. Composed by Anthony Pateras and released as a stand- alone album through Hallow Ground, the 29 pieces are based on »weird folk melodies ornamented with electro-acoustics to give the film a more fantastical, fairy-tale feeling,« as the composer puts it. His extensive international recording sessions with a slew of guest musicians results in a record imbued with a sense of mystical surrealism, otherworldly and haunting.
»Reise der Schatten« tells the abstracted story of a genderless being coming to terms with its identity and place in a world full of conflicts and systems of control. »The film was made with old animation software that only works on Mac OS 9. So already, we are in a very hermetic, unique space,« says Pateras. Having tried (and failed) to compose something »typically experimental,« he went for long walks in the Australian bushlands and came home with something else: the idea to create a soundtrack that would create »a kind of distance, or perceptual shift, but also a narrative drive and emotional context which is not always clear.«
While recording the album, the tētēma co-founder did not use digitally generated sound, instead workingwith live instrumentation whose sound palette was enriched by the use of feedback, tape delay, analogue synthesizers, and samples from vinyl records. Wanting to work primarily with acoustic instruments suchas the clarinet made Pateras embark on a complicated journey of his own. The initial recording sessions took place in Basel on metallophones that were designed by Domenico Melchiorre’s Lunason company and laid the foundation for everything that came after.
Pateras recorded with musicians such as guitarist Alexander Garsden, viola player Erkki Veltheim, clarinetist Aviva Endean, multi-instrumentalist Justin Marshall and Lizzy Welsh on the viola d’amore among other instruments. He recorded percussion and recorders with Rohan Rebeiro and Natasha Anderson in his hometown of Castlemaine, double bass with Benjamin Ward in Sydney, bass and flutes with Jon Heilbron and Rebecca Lane in Berlin, and electronics in Zürich with Netzhammer. »Reise der Schatten« was thus a literal journey, made with a »big, international electro-acoustic ensemble.«
As a stand-alone album, »Reise der Schatten« opens up a space of its own. Its stylistic diversity makes it atmospherically and emotionally multi-faceted. As its composer notes, »music for screen can be very virtuosic, sophisticated, and variegated!« His own work is a testament to that claim.
“O(c)tavio’s EP brings together a global crew of producers who all share the same name and a passion for high-quality techno. The A1 kicks off with “Fadeface” by NY based producer Otavio aka Fadeface, a rolling, driving cut that balances weight with groove. A2 follows with a no-nonsense loopy techno heater by Octavio, 1/3 of the Paraguayan group LPZ — pure dancefloor pressure, stripped and effective. On the flip, Argentinian artist Octavio Octavio brings a bit more swing with a groovier B1, still rooted in the floor but with a fluid touch.
Closing things out is a collaborative B2, combining all their styles into one cohesive, heavy-hitting statement. Pressed to vinyl and wrapped in stunning artwork by the talented Brazilian graphic designer Otavio Santiago. Turns out, putting a bunch of O(c)tavios in the studio results in one hell of a techno record.”
Originally released in 1983, "Take A Chance" is a classic Italo-Disco classic anthem, now officially reissued in the same shape as the first vinyl release.
The writer Max Sebald often pondered over the nature of human memory, specifically, how our thoughts and desires - and their results - overlap and mutate over time. In A Place in the Country, he writes of the significance of what see as “similarities, overlaps and coincidences”. Are they the “delusions” of the self and senses, or manifestations of “an order underlying the chaos of human relationships, ... which lies beyond our comprehension”?
Song of the Night Mists, the new album by post-classical composer Stefan Wesołowski, often feels it draws on Sebald’s premise.
On a simpler plane, the one where the market dictates the neatly ordered information we consume, Song of the Night Mists can be described thus: recorded in the main by Stefan Wesołowski in Gdańsk, both in his studio and in Saint Nicholas' Basilica, the album incorporates acoustic instruments - piano, violin, double bass - and classic synthesizers such as the Roland Jupiter-8, the Soviet Polivoks. A Roland Space Echo RE-150 tape delay was also pressed into service as an instrument. We also hear the basillica’s organ and field recordings from the Tatra Mountains. Other musicians were Maja Miro, who played the flute parts on ‘Glacial Troughs’ and brother Piotr Wesołowski, who played the organ on ‘Wilhelm Tombeau’. Sound engineer was Marcin Nenko, who was also on hand to record the basilica organ parts. The album was mixed in New York by Al Carlson (Oneohtrix Point Never, Jessica Pratt, Zola Jesus, Lady Gaga, and Liturgy) and Rafael Anton Irisarri handled the mastering.
Ostensibly, Song of the Night Mists is the last in a trilogy, following on from albums Liebestod (2013) and Rite of the End (2017). All three deal with existential matters such as love, death, decay and “an ultimate end”; apocalyptic and Promethean in spirit, and betraying very human conceits. The Sebaldian nature of the new record starts to make itself felt when Wesołowski talks of how he used sampling. One element is unexpected, that of sampling himself: “I go back to dozens of my own unused sketches and recordings, treating them as raw material to cut, slow down, reverse, and transform in every possible way.” Memory as sound, to be reemployed by the listener through their own imaginings.
Another set of samples made by Wesołowski plays another role. These are field recordings, originally created for an audio illustration of the formation of the Tatra Mountains, and used in a film by sound designer Michał Fojcik. Wesołowski: “You can hear cracking ice, streams, footsteps in the snow and the wind, and a real avalanche, recorded from the inside.” The “Tatra connection” on the album is also found in samples referencing composer Karol Szymanowski. The album’s title alludes to a poem about the mountains by Polish poet, Kazimierz Przerwa-Tetmajer.
Wesołowski’s Tatra recordings are “about a world without humans - about the fact that the world existed, was beautiful, and had meaning long before people arrived, and for the vast majority of its history, it was a place without us.” Wesołowski, using one iteration of the natural world, plays out in sound Sebald’s idea of another order, underlying the chaos of human relationships lying beyond human comprehension.
These feelings play themselves out on the five album tracks. Sonorous and rich, they illustrate tectonic shifts we have no control over. Wesołowski hints that the overall sound is a “meditation on the metaphysics of the non-human set against the spirituality that human presence has brought into it.” In that light, the opening number, ‘Core’, with its slow build, and crackling and straining sound effects, create an effect of the earth groaning into life in a creation myth. Once the piano part raps out a simple melody and modulated tonguing trumpet samples add to the overall atmosphere, the listener can certainly find a cue in the “spiritual”, or “human” side of the story. Human versus nature: from the strains and harmonic muscle stretches of the second number, ‘Glacial Troughs’, through to the powerful and filmic ‘Stalagmite’ and heart-on-sleeve romance expressed in closer, ‘Wilhelm Tombeau’, we listeners are cast as Friedrich’s wanderer, looking out over a landscape that will appear only if we engage with it.
Formations of melody appear incrementally, almost appearing by chance - like hidden footings in the rock shelves to give us something to grasp onto. Rhythms are used sparsely: the prolonged percussive taps on ‘Glacial Troughs’ are an anomaly and maybe there to give pace to the album to come; essentially to keep the listener strapped in. Elsewhere, percussion is used as an aid to mood, the two thudding, timpani-style passages on ‘Peak’ there to offset the short, beautiful, kosmische passage that splits them.
Elements of the borderline religious spirit that drove German electronic music in the late 1960s and 1970s also find a place on Song of the Night Mists. The swells and recessions of the organ find their emotional climax on ‘Wilhelm Tombeau’, a track which summons up echoes of the “mountain magic” vistas created by Popol Vuh or Tangerine Dream, especially with the slightly atonal wobble of the Mellotron that counters it.
This is a dramatic album, but it does feel a strangely short, or curtailed listen on ending, evoking the feeling one gets when waking from a dream, and, for all its incipient grandeur, a track like ‘Stalagmite’, for instance, ends on a minor note. Wesołowski admits that Song of the Night Mists is born of the all too human process of temptation, doubt and recalibration - Sebaldian overlaps and coincidences forming something that must live another life, away from its creator. In Wesołowski’s words, the album is “a newborn foal must stand up and walk right after birth.” Now it is yours to ponder.
The landscapes of Orlan 19 resembled the dream of a mad cartographer: cliffs were floating above the surface, horizons were bending and vanishing into infinity, and energy vortices were flaring up beneath their feet in psychedelic patterns. The familiar laws of physics didn’t apply here — gravity shifted chaotically, and time flew with unpredictable intensity. As Spacelunch, absorbed in thought, stroked the ground which distorted like a mirage under his touch, Cat’s grumbling echoed simultaneously from the past and future:
— Doc, don’t you think we’re just walking in circles?
— No wonder. That’s how inverse modelling works. Every action we take reshapes the surrounding space.
— Can you explain it in simpler terms? There’s only one genius here.
— Ever heard of the Philadelphia Experiment?
— Of course! You know how much I love sushi rolls!
— Well, I set myself up for this predicament… Back in my university days, we experimented with magnetic fields trying to program them by thought. You get where I’m going, don’t you? The planet is reacting to our intentions. So, focus on visualizing the portal.
The confusion on Cat’s face gave way to a mask of detachment. Clusters of matter began to tremble pulling the threads of reality to their breaking point before finally forming a vortex. Having devoured as much as it could, the vortex snapped shut with a loud pop and dissolved in a blinding flash.
As the scene began to take shape, silhouettes emerged under the soft glow of a desk lamp, evoking an overwhelming sense of nostalgia. A worn desk and a small bed stood by the wall adorned with faded photographs, while the floor let out a gentle creak underfoot. The clearer the interior came to be, the more paralyzing the realization, and the more elusive the explanation for what had happened became.
— Holy…! Cat, are we looking at the same thing?
— Yeah, but… This can’t be real.
Spacelunch slowly approached the window and froze still. A single thought raced through his mind: “The only force strong enough to pull me this far… was love.”
King Street Sounds are back again with their fourth installment in the King Street Sounds Sampler Series. This release unearths four classics from house music heroes such as DJ Romain, Mike Delgado, Dennis Ferrer, 95 North, Sabrynaah Pope and Louie Vega.
The EP kicks off with DJ Romain’s “All Day, All Night”. Originally released on “Nite Grooves” in 1996, a perfect example of New York house with a memorable vocal sure to keep you hooked hopefully all day and all night.
Next up is Mike Delgado with “Get Ready”. This track is a certified dancefloor filler, with those fast hitting highs and catchy keys. It is definitely a secret weapon that any DJ should use in case of an emergency.
Flipping over to the B side, Dennis Ferrer is returning once again in this series with “Dem People Go (DF's Kicked Out Mix)” Featuring Bola Belo. This Tribal House classic emulates being in the sun for the listeners, effortlessly bringing that block-party vibe.
Rounding off the EP is 95 North featuring Sabrynaah Pope with “Hold On” (Louie’s MAW Club). An already great track by its lonesome, but with house music icon Louie Vega’s magical touch it makes it a must have for any DJ who wants to get the dancefloor bumping.
King Street sounds have done it again! All killer and no filler.
This 1998 album compiles unreleased sessions from the late 70s featuring Weldon Irvine, Don Blackman and a young Marcus Miller. Known for his rare groove classics like Spirit Man in 1975 and Sinbad in 1976, Irvin's work shines here and highlights come thick and fast. They include the soulful 'Morning Sunrise' which was famously sampled by Jay-Z and Drake, the jazzy funk of 'The Sisters' with Miller's bass and Tom Brown's trumpet and the smooth 'Heard It All Before' which mixes urban sophistication with mellow fusion. Toni Smith's dynamic vocals on the funky 'Think I'll Stay A While' is another doozy which makes this masterpiece rich with jazz, soul and funk goodness.
Have you ever wondered what might happen when you collide Mighty Ryeders' timeless rare-groove classic 'Evil Vibrations' and De La Soul's iconic hip-hop jam 'A Roller Skating Jam Named 'Saturdays'' into one new tune? Well, wonder now more, because that's exactly what Groove-Diggers have done here. This fresh version blends the sampled parts of 'Evil Vibrations' with De La Soul's raps and vocals while Japanese hip-hop group FNCY have added their own new mic work into the mix as a way of paying tribute to De La Soul's original hit. Also included is a Japanese cover of 'Evil Vibrations' by Taiwanese jazz and neo-soul singer 9m88 which brings a whole different respective. A fun and sure-to-be effective package.
Die Kult-Reihe geht weiter! „80s Techno Tracks – Vinyl Edition 4“ ist die neueste Ausgabe der erfolgreichen Compilation-Serie, die die elektrisierende Energie der 1980er Clubszene auf Vinyl bringt. Diese Edition vereint erneut rare und legendäre Extended Versions von wegweisenden TechnoTracks, die das Fundament der heutigen Clubkultur legten.
Mit dabei sind Szenegrößen wie Westbam, Noise Control, OFF und viele mehr – in voller Länge, remastered und bereit für den Plattenteller. Ein Muss für Sammler, DJs und alle, die die Wurzeln des elektronischen Sounds feiern wollen.
With two critically acclaimed compilations already under his belt, DJ / collector miche returns to Mr Bongo with the third instalment of his With Love series. Testament to his ever-expanding taste, Volume 3 isn’t just a subs bench call-up from the past compilations, it’s an evolution and progression casting the net deeper and wider than before.
Keeping true to the series, but with some fresh surprises along the way, this carefully curated compilation is a celebration of soulful, independently released music from across the globe, and the amazing (often unsung) musicians and vocalists that made these sublime records.
Across the third volume, miche explores a jazzier side of his tastes. “The deeper I went, the more I found myself gravitating towards jazzier music - not leaving soul behind, but following that same feeling into new territory”, he explains. Tracks like the gliding jazz funk found on Late Nite Music Band’s ‘Sundance’, or the glorious jazz-soul number ‘In Flight’ by Spectrym are shining examples of this.
That defining soulful thread of previous volumes is still in full effect throughout this latest edition. “There’s a healthy dose of impossible-to-find soul gems that have that unmistakable, heartwarming feel. Tracks like John Simmons' 'Ain't Nothing Like The Love', which I've adored ever since Zaf Love Vinyl played it, sit perfectly alongside records like Le Cop and New Way”, states miche.
The addition of some top-tier Turkish music showcases another side to his ever-broadening taste. Nükhet Ruacan's 'Gölge' is something unique, a floaty Brazilian-inspired gem recorded in Turkey and not what you’d typically expect from Turkish records of this era.
It also wouldn’t feel right to leave out a stop in Brazil, with miche looking to the work of Carlos Bivar whose track 'Amargo Amar' carries that undeniable groove of samba-funk from Rio.
Spreading the With Love message far and wide the series has led to miche DJing across the globe, “from batucada sessions in Timisoara, to all-night sets in a club in Beijing, and even an eight-hour Root Down With Love stage takeover at We Out Here festival, joined by Danilo Plessow, Jeremy Underground, and of course, my mentor and buddy Rainer Trüby.”
Volume 3 then, carries that message even further. It’s an eclectic but intentional collection, built for the music lover who wants to discover something new. Working just as well as a soundtrack to cook dinner to, as it does keeping a packed dancefloor moving into the small hours.
Back in 1999, nestled in a cramped box room in his parents’ house in Cambridge, George Aretakis, one half of the newly-formed “I Like It” label (ili records) was on a sonic mission. Fresh from releasing their debut 12" All Alone by Hal, he dove headfirst into the world of self-engineering — no acoustic treatment, a sketchy Yamaha sound card, and a PC with a mind of its own.
What came out of that chaos is a collection of raw, imaginative tracks that blend hardware glitches with human quirks. Computer Rage was born from a technical meltdown — literal computer voices, warped vocals, coughing, and all. Its sibling, the Silicon Circus Mix, takes that same glitchy DNA and pushes it even further into bizarro territory.
Then there's Space You Know — a groovy slow-burner driven by a sticky bassline and the haunting vocal of Katie Jeans (courtesy of friends at Tummy Touch), chopped and recontextualized into something beautifully strange.
Rounding it out is Environ Mental, a moment of playful spontaneity made in a single night. Early morning birdsong, passing cars, and absurd vocalizations collide in a whimsical microcosm of lo-fi joy.
This release is a love letter to the unfiltered creativity of early bedroom production — messy, noisy, and bursting with heart. A must-have artifact for fans of DIY electronica and late '90s experimental house.
Rocker’s Revenge was a studio musical project, assembled by producer Arthur Baker in 1982. The band comprised of Baker himself plus Donnie Calvin, Dwight Hawkes, Tina B and Adrienne Dupree Johnson. They are most remembered by their 1982 post-disco hit "Walking on Sunshine", which peaked at number 1 on the US Dance Chart and number 4 in the UK.
On the A side of this release, the track is reset for 2025 with a remix by post punk indie rockers Yard Act, where they have include their own guitar, synths & vocals to give their unique stamp to it. – It’s become a track they have been performing live. On the other side is an unreleased 9 minute remix by New York’s legendary Sound Factory co-founder Junior Vasquez back from 1988, to make it proto acid house bassline & driving percussion journey.
Boston-born Arthur Baker launched his music career as a Disco DJ, but soon made his way into music-making, producing classic Disco for legends Northend and TJM. Arthur is one of the most visible and widely imitated early Hip-Hop/House producers; masterminding breakthrough experimentation with tape edits, sampling and synthetic beats on such records as Afrika Bambaataa's 'Planet Rock', New Order's 'Confusion', Freeez's ‘IOU’, and his own break Dance classic ‘Breaker's Revenge'. Baker would go on to become an award-wining DJ, music and film producer, working for and with the likes Dylan, Hall & Oates, Al Green, Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Diana Ross, &many more; on film music for 80s/90s classics such as Beat Street, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Life Less Ordinary. Turning his hand to film documentary’s, Baker has produced Finding The Funk and 808 the Movie. Baker has also directed a documentary on Rocker’s Revenge ‘On A Mission’ along with completing their debut album.
Sophomore release from the acclaimed trio of Inspectah Deck (Wu-Tang Clan) And 7L & Esoteric. Features MF Doom, GZA, Method Man, Large Professor, Juju Of The Beatnuts, Ra The Rugged Man, & Meyhem Lauren. Packaged in a 70+ Page Hardcover CD Casebook / 2LP on Clear vinyl with Lyrics & Cover Art From L'amour Supreme (Mishka NYC). Includes a comic, written by Esoteric with artwork by Gilberto Aguirre Mata (El Ultimo Codice) & L'Amour Supreme. CZARFACE - Wu-Tang founding MC Inspectah Deck and veteran Boston duo 7L & Esoteric - isn't concerned with the glitz and the B.S. that modern consumer culture is pushing. And neither are the group's fans. In 2013, the trio appeared relatively unassumingly with their self-titled debut, which was chiefly produced by DJ 7L and included guests ranging from Ghostface Killah and Cappadonna to Vinnie Paz, Action Bronson and Roc Marciano. The soon-to-be acclaimed group found out quickly that there was a groundswell of hip-hop fanatics thirsting for the lunchpail, lyrics-above-all-else rap they fell in love with in the '90s. Several pressings of the album on CD, 2-LP and even cassette later, they are back and ready to up the ante. This time around the group is the same, but it's fair to say that all three men have stepped up their game. We knew how we felt about the last album, but weren't sure how it would be received by listeners,' explains MC Esoteric. But people really responded to it, even more than we had hoped. That gave us the confidence to really spread our wings and let loose on this one. The chemistry is even tighter this time around. We know exactly what lanes we are cruising in and what weight class we are fighting in for Round 2.' Inspectah Deck adds, Czarface is like the Danger Room for the X-Men, I can use all my weapons on there. When I'm in Wu-Tang, I have to come a certain way because we have a certain style of fan, when I'm here doing the Czarface projects, it allows me to actually be an MC, it allows me to actually just spit...I love that. I love when i can just spit freely and just be an MC.' The fighting analogy - whether drawn from pugilism or '80s wrestling, both which figure into Every Hero Needs A Villain - is an apt one, considering the unrelenting lyrical attacks that Deck and Esoteric unleash on track after track, each trying to one-up the previous verse. Best of all, it is friendly camaraderie, based around a loose theme of renegade mutant MC talents running wild. DJ 7L explains, All three of us are influenced by comics, sci-fi movies, TV, wrestling. Czarface encompasses all of that, and it helps with the visuals as well.' On the production side, 7L shows yet again - as he did with the group's debut - that he remains a formidable yet underappreciated musical force, constantly providing hard, funky and alternatingly ominous backdrops for the assembled MCs to use as lyrical luge paths. If that wasn't enough, it's all iced with a ridiculously intricate and beefy 70-plus page, hardcover CD casebook with lyrics and extensive artwork by Gilberto Aguirre Mata (El Ultimo Codice) and L'amour Supreme, and with Death & Abduction,' a comic written by Esoteric, and an explosive, comic-book-inspired cover by L'amour Supreme (Mishka NYC).
01. Don The Armor
02. Czartacus
03. Lumberjack Match
04. Nightcrawler (Feat. Method Man)
05. World Premier (Feat. Large Professor)
06. The Great (Czar Guitar)
07. Red Alert
08. Junkyard Dogs (Feat. Juju Of The Beatnuts)
09. Sgt. Slaughter
10. When Gods Go Mad (Feat. Gza)
11. Ka-Bang! (Feat. Mf Doom)
12. Deadly Class (Feat. Meyhem Lauren)
13. Escape From Czarkham Asylum
14. Sinister
15. Good Villains Go Last (Feat. Ra The Rugged Man)
Energy Fields is Gus Paterson’s vinyl debut. One of the brains behind Bokhari Records, this four tracker melts disco, italo and house into a creamy funk fondue. Staggered bleeps and crisp percussion introduce the title piece, samples echo as a squelching thick bassline drops. Countering the fudgey strings are sparkling synthlines, bold brassy analogue bursts tethering the track to the floor. Although tempos drop for “Emotive Feel,” the energy remains high. Robust keys are further fortified by blasts from vintage machines, a free flowing groove lifted into astral jazz. Sharp beats open the flip for “Cyborg Dateline.” Soon, Paterson’s melodic skill takes over. Layers of inspiration are held together by ambling notes. Echoes of cosmic and disco are adopted, a contemporary twist delivered through the complex intertwining of elements. Paterson takes us into the stratosphere for the finale. “Jetpack Joyride” maintains the rhythm of its predecessor, pouring on the funk through daring piano lines and rich strings of double bass. A trip into the beyond from this debutant.
Another all-time classic from the extensive back catalog of the legendary Miami songstress Gwen McCrae.
"90% Of Me Is You" is instantly recognizable, it's been sampled countless of times by some of the most seminal Hip Hop artists ever (Large Professor, Jaylib, Mobb Deep & more) & is a bonafide "Rare Groove" sure-shot that never loses it's appeal & is always in demand with DJ's & producers. Perhaps it's the pairing of the languid guitar & strings, or Gwen's sultry vocals & that steady breakbeat that keeps people hooked some 40 years after it's original release Whatever it is, it's classic material from start to finish!
Backed here with it's original b-side slow jam "It's Worth The Hurt" this super-rare 45 has been re-mastered, re-pressed & brought back for 2015's dance-floors in conjunction & with the permission of T.K. Disco / Henry Stone Music, Miami USA.
Veteran Japanese electronic music producer, AKIO NAGASE, a leading player in the Kansai underground music scene since the late 1990s teams up with Yukino Inamine, a gifted and young female singer from Okinawa who magically mixes traditional Ryukyu (Okinawa) folk songs with her sanshin (Okinawan Shamisen) playing into the modern age, to create this wonderful collaborative album, Yugafu ai KAJI. This album is set to be released on GLOCAL RECORDS, a record store/ record label run by Genta Minowa, an ex-staff at the record store, Disc Shop Zero in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo and who still continues to introduce a great selection of dubby, club music from his HQ in Harajuku.
AKIO NAGASE regularly organised parties at his own venue, as well as ran a record store of the same name while actively being part of the Kansai scene at legendary clubs such as Tsuru no Ma, Sound Channel, etc., the best of what was offered in the Kansai underground dance scene in the 2000s.
As an artist, he released his own productions out of labels such as Sound Channel and RUDIMENTS run by Minowa. His album, Make Dub was released in 2003 out of the label, Sound Channel featured an innovative, techno meets dancehall track, Dance Hall King which connected techno, acid house with reggae and dub. This album is an undiscovered gem whose sound still emulates freshness and originality today (my wish is for it to be reissued on vinyl!) After a brief hiatus of releasing music, he released the EP, Delusion out of Chillmountain Records, a label run by his friend, Ground in 2018 and at his own leisurely pace, he has been slowly but surely releasing material that oozes originality, expressed through a robust acid sound and a variety of elements such as afro and Ryukyu folk music that is then incorporated into the medium of dub. Recently, he has also started to gain international attention by releasing original material and remixes out of labels such as the UK label, Emotional Especial, etc.
For this album, NAGASE teams up with Yukino Inamine who brings her own distinctive singing and sanshin playing magic into this collaboration and they fuse electronic music sounds with Ryukyu folk songs to create this wonderfully imaginative album that has no precedence or equal. Apart from the song, Ishikawa Koiuta, all other songs are covers of Ryukyu folk standards that were handpicked by NAGASE from the repertoire of songs that Inamine regularly performs live. They met up when NAGASE was commissioned to remix one of her original compositions, Miyagi Kaigan that was released in 2023 and that evolved into a collaboration with a concept that mixed Inamine singing Ryukyu folk standards with a backing tracks produced by NAGASE. Whenever she went to the the Kansai area, she would work on the basic track material created by NAGASE at the dub master of Osaka, Soulfire’s studio, HAV who would then additionally edit her takes to create the finishing tracks.
This album, Yugafu ai KAJI opens with Shirahamabushi, a track that slowly builds with an interesting mix of slow acid techno and sanshin and then moves onto the easy-going electro dub of Tinsagu nu hana (it is actually a cover of the track of the same title that first appeared in the label sampler, Comuni ó n Especial that was released on Emotional Especial. NAGASE initially wanted to feature Inamine on vocals for this track but due to scheduling issues, it did not happen but with good fortune, the new version of this track is now included in this album). A side closes with the optimistic Balearic sounds of Tsuki nu Kaisha that converges immaculately with slow-mo steppers. It is also worth noting that the person who introduced NAGASE to Inamine was the Okinawa dub master, HARIKUYAMAKU. They met at a concert held by both him & Yukino Inamine hosted by BUN BUN THE MC at the venue, RAGGA CHANNEL. From this encounter, this album came into fruition and they also asked HARIKUYAMAKU to produce an earthy, traditional rootsy, dub version of Tsuki nu Kaisha that is included as the 3rd track on the B Side.
Ashimizubushi, the track that magically blends old school Chicago house ala TRAX with Ryukyu folk music starts off the B side and it carries on to an uplifting track with a Skaouse (ska + house) feel, Hounen Ondo. Inserted after HARIKUYAMAKU’s dub of Tsuki nu Kaisha, this album closes out with the song, ‘Ishikawa Koi Uta’, the only song written by Inamine who said that she wrote it after falling in love with chill-out music. It is an ambient dub track with a collage like flavour, reminiscent of early The Orb (remixed by Mad Professor) and the latter half of the track finishes off with a message presented by Masao Itokazu (her uncle) who received tutelage from the prior owner of her sanshin that Inamine plays, Moritomo Inamine (her grandfather).
Incidentally, the album title, YUGAFU ai Kaji is derived from an auspicious word from Okinawa, Yugafu which means fruitful year, happiness, prosperity and ai (indigo) is a word that Yukino found inspiration few years ago (she wears a Okinawan indigo clothing called kinonuno in the front cover of this album).
The unique indigo colouring produced by nature overlaps with the unique charm of the human personality, and she wanted to present that current along with the music so the name was integrated to ‘indigo wind’, and the two were connected to form the album title, ‘YUGAFU ai Kaji’.
The photo of the front cover was taken by a young, Uchinaanunishie—- (meaning a boy from Okinawa) 17 year old photographer named Ratio and the designer of this album is Anmonaito who is a childhood friend of Inamine who also did the artwork for her album, Miyagi Kaigan. And the mastering and cutting of this album was done by Rei Taguchi.
The cosmology existing in Yukino Inamine’s singing is fully amplified by AKIO NAGASE’s spacey, abundant with many ideas, dance machine beat~ambient music and all of these elements are organically linked by the adhesive effect of dub.
Efficient Space honours trailblazing Australian imprint Volition Records with Volition Cuts Vol. 1. Evolving from Andrew Penhallow’s time at GAP Records, which smuggled Cabaret Voltaire, The Fall and the Factory catalogue into the region, Volition shifted focus to homegrown talent over imported sounds. Echoing its precursor’s blend of indie friction and electronic curiosity, the label wired itself into the pulse of club and rave culture, linking city scenes and amplifying them for the mainstream. With retina-scorching design, uncompromising packaging and top-tier remixes, Volition consistently bent the major label machine to its will.
No Volition retrospective would be complete without Sisters Underground’s intergenerational anthem ‘In the Neighbourhood’. Otara teenagers Brenda Makamoeafi and Hassanah Iroegbu brought their Pasifika perspective to Proud (An Urban-Pacific Streetsoul Compilation), a commercial success that platformed NZ rap and R&B with a clarity that outshone its overseas counterparts. The quiet architect of Volition’s sound, producer prodigy Robert Racic flipped the classic as a hip-house dub before his untimely passing in 1996.
Its A-side companion comes from Brisbane synth-pop unit Boxcar, who signed to Volition after frontman Dave Smith handed a cassette to Tom Ellard of Severed Heads during a school newspaper interview. That unlikely handoff led to their 1990 debut Vertigo. Here, their ritual-laced, body-jacking industrial is retooled by Miami freestyle maverick Tony Garcia.
Further cherry-picking from the VOLT vaults, Sexing The Cherry unleash a bleep-addled meltdown from Brisbane’s Edwin Morrow and Cherryn Lomas. ‘This Is A Dream’ was recorded exclusively for High (A Dance Compilation), the first all-Australian V/A to top the ARIA charts, propelling the local movement into national consciousness.
Closing the sampler, Sydney’s Single Gun Theory joined Volition as they moved from post-punk abstraction and electronic collage toward downtempo, sample-based mysticism. Their 1994 ambient-pop reverie ‘Fall’ is reimagined by Stuart Crichton and Apollo 440’s Norman Fisher-Jones as full-throttle Goa trance, a final surge that channels the label’s relentless push into new terrain.
Volition Cuts Vol. 1 is dedicated to the loving memory of Volition’s visionary founder Andrew Penhallow, and key contributors Robert Racic and Edwin Morrow.1
Paul Weller meldet sich mit Find El Dorado zurück – einem neuen, sehr persönlichen Album voller Neuinterpretationen, das am 25. Juli erscheint. Inspiriert von einer lebenslangen Leidenschaft fürs Musikhören greift Weller auf Songs zurück, die ihn schon seit Jahren begleiten – nun gedacht, neu gehört, neu gefühlt. „Das sind Lieder, die ich schon lange mit mir herumtrage“, sagt er. „Im Laufe der Zeit haben sie sich verändert. Und jetzt schien mir die Zeit gekommen, sie mit anderen zu teilen.“
Die Veröffentlichung markiert gleichzeitig ein neues Kapitel in Wellers beeindruckender Karriere. Als prägende Figur der britischen Musik – mit rund 11 Millionen verkauften Alben allein in Großbritannien – kehrt Weller zu Parlophone Records zurück, dem Label, das seine von der Kritik gefeierten Alben zwischen 2015 und 2019 betreut hat.
Find El Dorado ist weit mehr als ein klassisches Coveralbum – es ist eine emotionale Landkarte seiner musikalischen DNA. Von der sanften Melancholie in Ray Davies’ „Nobody’s Fool“ bis zum flirrenden Schmerz von „El Dorado“: Diese Songs haben Wellers Innenleben geformt – und finden nun ihren Weg zurück nach außen. Mit intimen Arrangements und starken Kollaborationen – darunter Hannah Peel, Declan O’Rourke, Robert Plant, Seckou Keita, Amelia Coburn und Noel Gallagher – öffnet Weller die Tür zu seiner ganz persönlichen Songwelt.
Munich’s DJ and Digging crew Super Sound Global drops into rotation with their rst vinyl record. Coming in hot with four hefty danceoor cuts — whipped up through guerrillastyle sampling and oldschool production tricks.
Masters at Work member Kenny “Dope” Gonzalez is the genius behind The Bucketheads – The Bomb! (These Sounds Fall Into My Mind). An established History of House hall of famer’, The Bomb’ is a 90’s house, party soundtrack essential that mixies electro, hip-hop and 4/4 house it features samples from Chicago’s ‘Street Player’ & Green Velvet’s ‘The Preacher Man’ fused into a disco-funk and house groove with edgy, funky, rough and ready beats and subtle latino flavour. It easy to see why its ranked in the 100 Greatest Dance Singles of All Time! Portuguese house producer Massivedrum is on remix duties. He has remixed dance royalty from Bob Sinclar, Axwell, Mory Kantè, Alexandra Stan, DJ Chus, Kentphonik, Yolanda B Cool among many others. He lends his house sensibilities and ear for the floor to enhance ‘The Bomb’ to new levels for an unforgettable experience. Besides the Massivedrum remix and it’s dub, also the full 14’51” minutes original version is available on this double A sided release! The Massivedrum remix is taken from the album “High Fashion Dance Music 5 – Mixed by Ben Liebrand”, which is available on LP/CD/MC and DCC.
The return of Sengiley Wax with the second part of the Russian series!
Without too much thought, the choice fell on the representative of the unique Russian producer Konstantin Isaev, better known as Volta Cab. However, here we see a completely different side of him, which he is actively developing at the moment - Rambal Cochet.
Magma Resort is the producer's musical spectrum here and now, ranging from canonical Trance to dips into ambient as well as house music sounds.
Konstantin tells us: "This album was created using a Reason DAW, Korg Minilogue and Korg Electribe. It was inspired by the magical atmosphere (in Krasnodar it's always so), my move from St. Petersburg to Krasnodar, as well as nostalgia for something new, but at the same time so familiar".
1. Magma Resort - inspired primarily by the work of Pavel Yesenin and Yuri Usachev and the group "Guests From the Future", as well as progressive dream trance of the early noughties.
2. Amnesia - Ibiza, 1995, sun, beach, dolphins in the sea.
3. Phuture Extravaganza - is the future anthem of summer 2025 in the truest trance sound !
4. Infect Me - proggy hyper pop vibe with sci-fi illusions.
5. Evolving - you wake up from the first rays of the sun, the light hits your eyes, you're finally home..
6. Spaziotempo - Hot summer 2024, you've been walking around Rome for a week, it's a pity that in the morning the plane home to Krasnodar via Istanbul.
Shiver Records returns with another club-ready whitelabel by Frankfurt based Porco Rosso.
4 track EP with an oldschool vibe, analog feelings and jacking moments all patched together in a serious but not serious manner. Add playful samples, softer keys and casual glitchy whistles - a gliding tool with a powerful spank for the record bag.
Vinyl only handstamped 180g whitelabel with clear outer sleeve.
Logo stamp on one side & graphic stamp on the other side.
Multi-instrumentalist, visual artist, and scene creator, Jonathan Uliel Saldanha, has been releasing music under various guises for two decades. With the successes of his moniker HHY (Nyege Nyege Tapes) whether in symbiosis with The Kampala Unit or the syncopationophilic big band of The Macumbas, Jonathan Uliel Saldanha's sonic signature continues to grow more and more singular. Ever synthetic and digital, Uliel Saldanha's work-ethic never eases—having recently started a label of his own, Horror Vector.
Surface Disorder sees the release of the music from Jonathan Uliel Saldanha's large-scale exhibition of the same name that occurred in Porto & Lisbon, (2024-25). As with much of his work, there is a Ballardian sense of a near-future in dystopia. And since we're already living the apocalypse, there's never a hidden moral to veer away from the torment. Instead, Uliel Saldanha dives into it and catalyzes it further.
Information from Angels feels like a cunty John Dee AI (credited as The Mouth) becoming an oracle of information overload, accompanied by an instrumental bidirectionally that splits into a lush harmonic layer of blissful punctuated pads and another that is a speedy but subdued melodic bassline. The Mouth intones a 15-minute fever dream that flows through themes that have occupied Uliel Saldanha for quite some time.
On Swarming the Pit, the intricacy of Jonathan Uliel Saldanha sonic wizardry is on full display. A constantly moving swarm of granulated particulates of sonic material morph into a variety of textures: coins or gunshell casings hit the floor, engines rev their monstrosity, rubber-like pulses are splayed into spectral blurs and pops. This is clearly an update on music conrète's obsessions.
The Mouth on the closing track, Wolf & Virus Dialogues, has a completely different texture from the first, alerting the listener to the uncanny nature of its genesis. Here the instrumental sounds are all triggered by the articulations of the voice: a weird unison, it serves as its own artificial accompaniment. The reiteration of a self-model (a rabid 'my') creates a greater tension between computational self-certainty and the terror of its inevitable actualization.
Spiritual Rhythms by Mix’Elle, the fourth release on Portuguese label angel, is particularly special for a couple of reasons: it’s the artist’s first record (a true triumph at that) plus she is a resident at the night series that originated the label itself. It’s truly an all-connected type of affair. This EP taps, in a personal and intentional way, into the very foundations of jungle and drum n bass, taking us on a soulful ride permeated by Mix’Elle’s influences while incorporating her artistic vision, one that was shaped through hours behind the decks in underground drum n bass parties for well over a decade.
The record opens with title track ‘Spiritual Rhythms’, a 174 bpm mantra-like roller clocking in at 6 minutes with the textured pads and the realness you could expect from a Rufige Kru classic. A fat sub underpins it, urgent spoken words remind us what we’re here for: ‘it comes from the drum. and the drum is something spiritual’ as congas play briskly into the groove.
Things slow down significantly for the second track, ‘Angel nights drop tha bass’ - a signature floaty pad and a drum break maintain a steady continuum. A hopeful chord progression is offset by the sharpness of the drums, the bass gluing it all together with the help of an archetypal stretched vocal. Everything is in its right place - a genre veteran is very clearly at work.
‘Touring’ features a mischievous low end, as if a jazzy double bass were played by a dub experimentalist. The funkiness is infectious, with off-tempo string stabs and a mutating filtered breakbeat that feels alive - a vocal pad chants throughout, adding a layer of wide-eyed enchantment.
Percussion never falls short in this record, and the closing track begins with nothing but a shaker, toms and congas - evolving to an elegant, dreamlike yet crisp piece, led by a prominent bassline, its washes and wobbles re-arranging our chakras. Spiritual Rhythms indeed.
angel is a label run out of Lisbon by Violet. A sister label to naive, angel tries to portray the party series of the same name - a bass-led, smoke-drenched celebration where the main room is dedicated to dnb and the second explores adjacent stylistic fringes like dubstep, trip hop, dub or jazz.
Drawn from years of early-hour sets and the quiet intimacy of the booth before the room fills, Gimme The Sun marks the debut EP of Al-Veez (real name Alvise Marino). A seasoned guitarist raised in Italy with musical roots in funk, boogie, and blues, Marino’s release is a sonic travelogue of his formative years as a selector in a city, NYC, that quietly became home. The prominent guitar captures both the ache of departure and the bright, restless hope of return.
With a wistful blend of beachy, meandering textures, lush synth layers, and a hypnotic pulse, the EP lands in time for another steamy summer in the city—sure to strike a chord with longtime NYC house heads, whether they be behind the booth or lost in the crowd. Arranged in close collaboration with TSoNYC label boss Danilo Braca (also on mixing and mastering duties), theshimmering title track reads like a Dear John letter to New York. Tender, honest, and full of gratitude, it’s the kind of farewell only a true love could inspire—one that dances forward even as it looks back.
As the record warms up, “F Train Boogie” evokes snapshots of bright midsummer mornings gazing out a scratch-blurred train car window at the glistening city, while the track that follows, “Sneaky”, sizzles with cosmic allure—an intoxicating blend of luminous synths, tightly interlaced rhythms, and a commanding kick drum that locks the listener into an entrancing groove from the very first bar. “Underwater”, the fourth and final track, shares some of the same allure and mystery, but features a playful optimism, encouraging the listener to lean into curiosity of what the next chapter, night, or DJ set will hold.
With a steely sound matching fathoms-deep echo chambers with metallic textures and precision drums, Sciama arrives on Samurai Music to press into the inspiring hinterland between techno and drum & bass.
Sciama is the production alias for Michael Watters, a producer who since 2019 has carved out a formidable reputation across a stellar run of releases on ASC's Auxiliary label. While his music references UK bass, transcendental techno and industrial, the end result is a taut, focused journey through fractured, weighty rhythms and vast, ranging atmospherics tilted towards the darkness.
Between Veils is testament to Watters' refined production, steeped in intensely detailed and layered sound design in constant fluid motion, whether locked to the grid or shifting across the surface of the track like grayscale snow drifts. Noise becomes a subtle tool in his hands, capable of delicacy as much as abrasion, and discord evokes a haunting beauty if you listen past the clangorous overtones he elicits from his pads.
For all the writhing, artful sonics, there is still ample weight in the Sciama sound to hold court over a sound system. 'Figures In Mist' rests on a constant half time cycle underpinned by monolithic bass pulses and 'Ghost Trail' finds deadly energy in the faintest flicker of double-time hats above the slow march of a 4/4 kick clocking around 85BPM. Restraint is paramount, even in the fuller rhythm section that drives 'Anima Trace', creating tension through what isn't sequenced as much as what is. 'Veil Of Mirrors' has an especially punchy kick propelling the cavernous echos and ripples that shape out yet another vivid soundscape, but at all times Watters keeps a tight grip on his arrangement to keep the energy simmering just below boiling point.
Moving well beyond the boundaries of any specific genre, Between Veils winds upas a strong, independent statement on the meeting point between broad influences and clear intentions - a formidable addition to Samurai Music's explorations beyond drum & bass and Sciama's steadily evolving, singular style.
Plying refracted rhythms with an exacting poise, Aerae arrives on Samurai Music with a fully formed sound that plumbs the depths between techno immersion and D&B beat science.
An accomplished, palpable tension runs throughout Nefanda, Aerae's second solo release. Following up on the meditative pulse of her debut album on Annulled Music last year, the Paris-based artist digs deeper into ominous atmospheres filled with evocative reverb decays and taut, dynamic drum work - tools she wields to Redner tracks with specific meaning, coded by the Latin framing that runs through all aspects of her musical output. Contemplating the ancient language as an inescapable part of her European roots, on Nefanda Aerae ruminates on external trials and inner impulses, and conjures a jaw-clenching soundtrack to match.
'Mons' (translation: 'Mountain') speaks to challenges, strength and spiritual ascent, marked out by an urgent thrum of conga slaps and a 4/4 kick around the 170 BPM mark that finds power in minimalism even at the relatively high tempo.
The title track opts for a more broken framework, pivoting pointed percussion around a deft sub pulse while turning up the intensity with an exacting poise.
'Nefanda' translates as 'unspeakable,' or 'too horrific to name,' and the fraught, synthetic wraiths contorting through the track convey the dread the title implies.
'Fovea' (translation: 'pit') burrows deeper into spatial design with a looming low end rumble and subliminal sound sculpture, shaping out a dark, introspective chasm tipped towards disassociation. It's a powerful statement in any setting, but the all-consuming bass feels especially crafted for full, physical sound system immersion.
'Phrenesis' (translation: 'frenzy') rounds the EP out in fierce form, building up a high-pressure arrangement from ambient beginnings with ruthless control. There's a sense of duality in motion between half-time and double-time rhythmic elements, every incremental shift adding to the intensity of the track with the elegant, impactful touch that has fast become Aerae's calling card.
Finding her own language within the dialogue between techno, D&B and dark ambient, Aerae's music makes a vivid impression thanks to the ideas and intention that drive her in the studio. Nefanda confirms her status as a leading light in deep, psychedelic dance music, making something extremely personal that also reaches out beyond notions of the self like all the best transcendental music.
Brooklyn Sway's 7th drop might best be described as the black market edition, but as always we leave the gumshoe work to those heads out there savvy enough to figure it out themselves. Thugfucker alum Acid Tourist and BKS stalwart DeWinter remix celebrated West Coast sideman ROC's cover of a tune that needs no intro, transforming a torch song into an acid belter while keeping its quality intact. Charles Levine, best known as Charlie from Soul Clap, steers close to his usual antics with 'Ocean Waves & Ashtrays', his ashtrays obviously full of blunt ends as he runs the voodoo down on a sultry funk number laced with fat lead keys and ideal for beach party afterhours or smoky late-night sessions. Returning for a second BKS appearance, Ohm Hourani's 'SupaDupaFly' fetches the funk again with rap vocal samples sliding just inside the industry 10% rule set amidst seesawing synths for a woozy, extended effort sure to influence sobriety decisions. On 'Hearts & Diamonds,' label honcho Jay Prouty and mainstay David Paglia join forces jailbreaking two legendary NYC freestyle anthems into a combination that rocks more like high period New Order, so when you catch Fumero's psychedelic painting winking at you off the plate after a few spins, you'll understand exactly why the sway resides in Bucktown.
After a digital EP on Tresydos and a debut vinyl release earlier this year on Beau Mot Plage, Luke Seager is quickly establishing himself as a promising new figure on the Paris electronic music scene. With a sound shaped by house music, minimal aesthetics, guitars, and cinematic film samples, his productions reflect a rich and eclectic palette.
His new EP, released on Chat Noir Tools, continues this trajectory, offering a refined blend of textures and grooves. The record also features a remix by Pagenty, adding a fresh perspective to Luke’s original material and confirming his growing presence in the scene.
Welcome to Club Partenopea — a masterclass in understated elegance and deep, introspective grooves.
Side A: Sunset Sessions – The Soundtrack Toward Night
A1. “Smooth Rides”
An energetic yet fluid track, “Smooth Rides” blends warm analog synths with a swinging groove, creating an immersive listening experience. It invites the listener to drift into its layered soundscapes and lose themselves in the rhythm.
A2. “Hope Is the Refuge”
The ultimate soundtrack for relaxation and good vibes. This soft-textured piece weaves shimmering pads with subtle piano flourishes, while hushed, ethereal vocal samples float in and out—not as a lead, but as an ambient layer—adding to its dreamy, gently melancholic mood.
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Side B: Blending Into the Party-Time Pulse
B1. “Club Partenopea”
A deep house groove that shines with infectious piano riffs, acting like rhythmic exclamations. Joyous and unifying, it’s made for the dancefloor — pure, celebratory energy wrapped in elegance.
B2. “Timer Groove”
Your late-night companion. “Timer Groove” fuses the lush, immersive tones of deep house with a buoyant, uplifting bassline. It’s the perfect 1 AM tune—when the crowd gets intimate, the energy softens, and the music becomes a trusted guide through the night.
